Rewinding mechanism for clock springs



April 25, 1933. J. M. ANDERSEN 1,905,783

REWINDING MECHANISM FOR CLOCK SPRINGS Filed Jan. 16, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet1 715-] Fla-Z April 25, 1933. ANDERSEN 1,905,783

REWINDING MECHANISM FOR CLOCK SPRINGS Filed Jan. 16, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet3 Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHAN M. ANDERSEN,OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, #SSIGNOR TO ALBERT & J. M.

ANDERSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA-TION OF MASSACHUSETTS nnwmnme MECHANISM FOR oLo'ox SPRINGS Applicationfiled January 16, 1928. Serial No. 247,178.

This invention relates to a clock mechanism, and has for one of itsobjects to provide for rewinding the clock spring by an electric motorhaving a rotor, when the clock spring has been unwound a predeterminedamount, and for rendering the electric motor inoperative when the clockspring has been rewound a predetermined amount.

The invention among other uses is especially adapted to be embodied in atime circuit controller provided with a clock spring which is utilizedas a motor for intermittently driving a' rotatable member or device, andalso used for driving the usual time train of the clock.

One construction of time circuit controller of this character is shownand described in United States Patent No. 1,299,812 granted tome April8, 1919.

The invention further has for its object to provide a novel mechanismfor coupling one end of the clock spring with therotatablc device ormember to be rotated. thereby, and also with the rotor of the electricmotor, whereby the spring may be unwound to intermittently operate therotatable member and may be wound up by the electric motor in acontinuous manner.

The invention alsohasfor its object to pro vide a circuit controllerfor-the electric motor which is operatively connected with the clockspring to out in and cut out the electric motor as will be described. I

The invention further embodies a novel construction of mechanism forcontrolling the operation of the rotatable member by the clock spring.

These and other features of this invention will be pointed out in theclaims at the end of this specification.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus embodying this invention;

Fig. 2, a side elevation looking towardthe left in Fig. 1, showing theelectric motor in circuit; I

Fig. 8, a side elevation looking toward the right in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 a detail showing the motor switch p i Fig. 5, a rear elevation ofthe apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig.- 6, an enlarged side elevation of the motor switch shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 7 and 8, details of the coupling mechanism between the clockspring and the de vice intermittently rotated thereby, and the electricmotor, Fig. 7 illustrating the operation when the clock spring is beingunwound, with the electric motor cut out of circuit, and Fig. 8illustrating the operation when the clock spring is being rewound by theelectric motor;

Fig. 9, a longitudinal section of the couplin-g mechanism between theclock and the electric motor;

Fig. 10, a section on the line a2-.r, Fig. 9, looking in the directionof the arrows 1010;

Fig. 11, a section on the line 00-02:, Fig. 9,

looclliing in the direction of the arrows 1111, an

Fig. 12, a detail to be referred to.

In the present instance, the invention is shown as embodiedin a timecircuit controller whose time element is substantially the same as inthe patent referred to and comprises a clock mechanism provided with afront plate a and with a back plate 5, for supporting the operativeparts of the apparatus.

The clock mechanism is provided with a main spring 12 located in abarrel or drum 13 to which one end of the spring 12 is secured. Theother end of the spring 12 is fastened to a main shaft 1 1 on which thebarrel is loosely mounted. The barrel 13 as herein shown is provided atone end with a gear 15, and is closed at its opposite end by a gear 16fast on the main shaft 14.

The rotation of the main shaft by the spring 12 is governed in the usualmanner by a time train of gears 17, provided with the usual escapement,not shown, and which is connected with the gear 16 by a pinion 18 on ashaft 19.

The shaft 14 has fast on it a time dial or disk 20 provided with radialslots 21, with which co-operate bent fingers 22 on levers or arms 23,24, which form with the disk 20 a selective mechanism for determiningthe time at which a rotatable member should opg" I I 1,905,733

yond the bent fingers 22 and form trip-' r 1 "'oi de bei tended "Mr surfaces" rh f mh as P rate with a beveled finger 28 on the arm of a lever30, fast on a shaft 31 extended through the front and back plates a bof'the cloclr'mechanism. The lever 30 constitutes a lever for 1 15 therotatable memberor device, which in thepresent instance is a shaft 32,which is 'operatively connected with a member to be e q lled by theapparatus, vSuchJnemher may an electricswiteh as cook or the e-ne shown,b w h 1s repre ent-why the conneetingrod 33, The rotatable device or 32is designed to be m or lttently rotated by clock spring 12, Ihich alsoqpntinnously'drives the time tra n and the selective mechanism 20, 23,The clock 12 is further designedto be automatically rewoundiintermittently by an elec tric motor 35.

7 To these ends 15 driven by the 9 cloekspr' ,12,is connected with theshaft 32 and wil the electric motor-.35 by a coupling mechanism, ferablyof a construc tion as will be :1 ibed, which enables these results tobeefieeted.

# In the present instance, the coupling mechanism, shown in detail inFigs. 9 to'll'in; elusive, consists of, ashaft 40. having: fast thereonby a pin4l or otherwise a worm and by a pin 43 a spur pinion 44,

t whi has from he worm gear y oein whichislocatcd asleeve 45.

H sleeve 45 is loose on the shaft and is rovided at aefltdmith azspurear 46 otherend with: disk 47, aving an annular flange or ring 48 of awidth substantially equal to the width of the spur pinion 44p thatthelatter maybe within said 'flange 48" is on its inner cir 49, withwhich are 7 s ew s s im 50,61

m ri hthesp em sm p ons time l o yt d on ,"e ya disk-5 .1 a

W v ce l osely th h f I Q a .4 s oifihs pm on "44191 19 t q is W i I J 7#1 re intended tti opp sit end was gear '57, whichmeehes; with a a spurQ gear 8 stud shaft 59carried by 1 i Plats um-F g- Qh fl g s 58 I gear15, which may sleeye 45 meshes with a The construction is such that whenthe shaft 40 is stationary, the sleeves 45, 55 are capable of bengrotated as a differential unit on the shaft 40, in which case thepinions 50, 51 move about the center pinion 44 on the M 9, as a vr eflon fi ei i t ds 52, 53 to produce rotation of the internall capablirofbeing turned at a different speed from theshaft 40, namely, at a muchslower speed,'because' in this case the pinion 44 acts toturn the inions50, 51 on their shafts, and by; reason 0 the pinions 50, 51 being inmesh with theinternal teeth 49 of the now station; are-flange 48, thedisk 54 and its sleeyev55 are caused to turn on the shaft 40, therebycausing the gear 57.,on the sleeve 55 to rotate the gear 58, which inturn rotates the barrel gear 15 to wind up the end of the clock spring12 which is attached to the barrel 13.

Theshaft 40 is operatively connected with the electric motor 35, whichis fastened to the backplate b, and in. the present instance thisconnection is efifectedby a pinion 61 on the shaft 161 of the armatureor rotor of the electric motor 35meshing with a gear 62 on a, shaft 63,which;has..a worm 64 in mesh with the worm gear 42 on the shaft 40.Theshaft 63 is supported by'a hollow arm 65 extendedfrom a metal castingor supporting wall 66; which is secured to the back plate b of the clockframe. 1 5 I It will thusbe seen that under one cgiidition of use',,tlieclock spring 12 is coupled with the rotatable device orshaft 32 torotate thelatter by the unwinding of the end of the clockspring attachedto the barrel 13, and un-i deranother cond tion of use, the clock springis coupled with the rotor of the electricmotor 35 to have its endattached to the barrel 13 wound up by said electric motor.

The clock spring 12 is designed when wound up to have suflicient powerto operate the shaft 32 a number of times before the" nected therewithand not herein shown, but. if

which is represented bythe rod or-bar 33.

The intermittent rotation of the shaft '32 by the clock spring 12 iscontrolled by -theselective mechanism comprising the disk 20 and thelevers 23, 24 oo-o'perati th r which parts arecontinuously rotated by.the unwinding of the end of the clock spring connected with the mainshaft 14 of the clock, toglhich thedisk 20 isseeured to rotate them w1i- In the present instance, the shaft 32 is re strained from beingrotated by the clock at? that-ins toothed flange 48 and its sleeve 45 ata (li 'ferent speed from thehub 55 but inthe seine zdim e; e. ,r 7

When, however, the sleeve 45 is stationary and the shaf t 40 is rotated,the sleeve 55 1s spring 79 to a stud 80 on the back plate. The

rear end of the pin 7 8 is extended toward the back plate between twopins 81, 82 thereon (see Fig. 12) which serve as stops to limit movementof the disk 76 in opposite directions.

The disk 76 is turned in the direction of the arrow 83' (see Fig. 5) byrotation of the release shaft 31, and is turned in the oppositedirection by the spring 79.

Movement of the disk 76 in the direction of the arrow 83 causes the link74 to lift the detent lever and remove it from the path of the arm 72,which will be hereinafter referred to as a stop arm for the shaft 32.

The same movement of the disk 76 causes the link to lower the shorterdetent lever 71 into the path of the arm 72 which is arrested thereby.This movement of the disk 76 is effected by one of the tripping devices25 or 26 engaging the finger 28 on the release lever 30.

It may also be effected by the operator depressing the finger piece 84:on the arm 85 of said release lever 30.

\Vhen the tripping device 25 or 26 passes out of engagement with thefinger 28 on the release lever 30, the disk 76 is turned in thedirection opposite to that indicatedby the arrow 83 by the spring 79,which elevates the detent lever 71 and lowers the detent lever 70.Elevation of the detent lever 71 releases the arm 72 and the gear 86 towhich it is connected to move therewith as will be described, and allowsthe clock spring 12 to function as a spring motor and rotate'the shaft32 a half revolution and the gear 87 thereon a half revolution, whichrotates the smaller gear 86 a full revolution.

The half revolution of the shaft 32 and its gear 87 moves the connectingbar v33 in the direction of the arrow 88, Fig. 5, to close the switch orother device connected therewith, or the switch may be arranged to beopened by such movement of the bar 33.

Let it be assumed that the movement of the connecting rod 33 in thedirection of the arrow 88 closes the switch or device connected with therod 33. On the next operation of the release lever 30, the shaft 32 andits gear 87 will be turned a second half revolution and the connectingbar 33 will be brought back into the position, shown in Fig. 5, therebyopening the switch or device connected with the bar 33.

It is designed that the clock spring 12 should have power enough whenwound up to rotate the shaft 32 a number of times before its power hasdiminished to the point where it is unable to rotate the shaft 32 andoperate the electric switch or other device connected with the saidshaft.

While the clock spring 12 is being run down as described, the electricmotor 35 is idle, and provision is made for cutting it into its circuit,when the clock spring has been unwound a predetermined amount,preferably before the said spring has been run down completely.

Provision is also made for cutting the electric motor 35 out of itscircuit, when the clock spring has been rewound the proper or desiredamount.

To these ends the circuit of the electric motor 35, represented by thewires 90, 91 in Fig. 1, is provided with a relatively small switch,which is operatively connected with the clock spring to be controlledthereby.

In the present instance, one construction of apparatus, which may bepreferred, is shown for accomplishing these results.

The apparatus herein shown consists of a screw shaft 92 (see Figs. 3 andat) which supported at its rear end by the back plate 6 and has itsfront end extended into an internally threaded pinion 93, having arelatively long hollow hub 9% extended through and supported by thefront plate a, the internal screw-threads of the pinion being extendedinto the hub 9% substantially the length thereof.

The pinion 93 meshes with the gear 16 which is fast on the main shaft 1&of the clock, and said pinion is relatively wide so that it can travelon the screw 92 and remain in mesh with the said gear.

The hollow hub 94 is provided at its outer end with a head 95 which hasextended from its central portion a solid rod 96 of a lengthsubstantially equal to the distance the pinion 93 travels, said rodhaving at its end a head 97.

Between the heads 95, 97 is located a roller 98 on the upper end of alever 99, having its pivot 100 mounted in arms 101 attached to a plateor bar 102 mounted on a base 103 of insulating material, which issecured to the front plate a of the clock.

The lever 99 has a relatively long hollow arm 104 (see Fig. 6) intowhich is extended the hollow arm 105 of a lever 106, which is pivoted at107 to a lever 108, pivoted at 109 to lugs 110 on an arm 112 attached tothe plate 102.

The lever 108 is provided with arms 113, 114: which co-operate with thearm 112 to limit the movement of the lever 108 in opposite directions.

The hollow arm 105 of the lever 106 is shorter than the hollow arm 104ofthe lever 99, and has locatedin it a helical spring 116, which isof'suflicient length to engage the V bottomof the hollow arm 104 and tobe comthereby when. the lever 106 is moved me site directions, as willbe described. e hollow arm 104 has extended from it laterally a bent 411r 120 to which is pivotally secured oneeiid of a link 121 ofinsulatingrmaterial, which has a slot 122-into which .i isexitended apin 1.2% on the movable blade 124 of the switch. fonthe electric motor35.

The blade 124 isv iroted togarbraeket 125 attached to the ing base 103,and has its free end co-operating with the stationary contact members126 attached to the base 103. bracket 125 constitutes one terminalfnrtfhemotor switch and-has'one circuit wire 90 connected therewith (see;Fig.. 1) while the-contact members 126 constitute the other terminal ofthe motor switch and the other wire 91 of the circuit is connectedtherewith. reference to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the l evers 99; 108constitute a toggle, which isfl'olmected with the switch member or blade124hy the. pinand slot connection 123, 122, which permits the blade tobe opened and closed with a snap, when the spring 116 has beencompressed the proper amount by the movements of the lever 99 inopposite directions.

In this manners quick opening and closin switch for the electricmotor-35 is provi ed.

In the open position of the motor switch blade 124shown in Fig. 6, thecenter pin 107 of the toggle levers 99, 108 is on one Side of a planecpassing. through the pivots a 100, 109 for sai levers, and inthe closedf ion of said switch blade, represented in m2and3,theeenterpin107isontheop site side of said plane. a "1 "He tog le levers 99, 108a're movedinto the 'fimt these'two itions by the head 97 assisted by the spring116, and into the second 'on by the head 95 assisted by theisai springThe head 97 being attached to the hub 94 of the pinien93 is moved withthe latter as said inion ireciprocated .in the screw shaft Figs. 2 and8,, the electric motor switch 12iis shown closed and the motor 35 5 iirewinding the S 12, as indir cated in Fig. 8,through-t worm/64, worm f@142," shaft 40, pin1on 44, pimons50, 51,

6. gears c57,58.c-a'ndz barrel. gear 15. ,4 :The harrelgearrxlfimesheswith a gear 130' 5 v swings-3,4, flnd 8), which is fast on dsoretvshaftSitsothtasthebflrelgear is rotatedtorewindi the clock spring12,

shaft 926a such directohausethe pini1'93 t0' and there- Qo n,intbedirectien of mowlmfrom substantially the tgsitioh shownin Fig. 3to tshown-in' .4. 11M or about the timothe aloe .sprmg 12 has beenrewound the desired amount, the head 97 movable with the pinion 93engages the roller 98 andturns the levers 99 108 from the position shownin Figs. 2 an 3, into that shown in Figs. '4 and 6,

opening'the circuit of the electric motor 85.

It will thus be seen that the switch 12%, 126 for the electric motor isopened, when the clock spring '12 has been rewound the proper ordesiredamount, and at such time j" the pinion' 93 is in proximity to theback plate b, as represented in Fig. 4.

When the electric motor 35 hasbeen out out oficircuit, s .w: .i'otafgthe 1 gear 15, and the latter isthen placed under the influence of theclock spring 12, which 9 than functions as a motor to rotate the shaft32 and operate the circuit controller, represented by the bar 33, whenpermitted so to do by the selective mechanism 20, 23, 24 leasing thestop arm 72 as above describbd.

Ateach intermittent operation of the shaft 32 b the .clock springfunctioning as a motor, t e-barrel gear 15 rotates the gear 130 and itsscrew shaftz'92 in the proper direction to cause the pinion 93 to travelon the-screw shaft 92 in a direction opposite to that indicated by thearrow 131,0r toward thefront plate a as herein shown.

It will thus be seen that the pinion 93 is moved step by step in onedirection by the clock spring when the latter is unwinding and functionsas a motor to intermittently rotate'the shaft 32, and is movedcontinuously in the opposite direction whenit-is being rewound by theelectric motor.

At or about the time the clock spring has been unwound the predeterminedor desired amount, the motor switch member 124. 'is movedinto its closedposition, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to cut in the eiectric motor 35, andthis is efi'ected by the head 95 on the hub 94 of the pinion 93 engagingthe roller 98 and moving the togg levers 99, 108 from the po sitionshown in Figs.,& and 6, to that shown inFigs'.2and3. l,-

' The pinion 93 is'alsorotated continuously by thegear '16 which iscontinuously driven by the end of the clock ring attached to the mainshaft 14 of the 01:03:.

The rotation of the pinion 93 by the gearld eifectsemovement thereoflengthwise on screw shaft 92 in the same direction it is. moved by thespring motor 12'; thatis in then direction opposite tofliat indicatedarrow 181-,eo that the-pinion 93 ondsto the unwindin of both -ends of oclock springyone on of said spring being \inwound intermittently and theother end being wolmd continuously.

The continuous unwinding of one" the clock spring operates the-timetnfi'17 and'the selective mechanism 20, 23,.24; and the intermittentunwindingof end operates the screw shaft 92. farm "0 The continuous rotation ofthe pinion 93 does not interfere with the longitudinal movement thereofin the direction of the arrow 131 by the rotation of the screw shaft 92.

The operation of the apparatus herein shown may be readily understoodfrom the above description, but it will be briefly described as follows:

As represented in Fig. 1, the arms 23, 24 of the selective mechanism areengaged with the slots 21 on the disk corresponding to the hours 5 P. M.and 6 45 A. M. and the time dial or disk 20 is rotated continuously bythe end of the clock spring 12 attached to the main shaft 1 1 of theclock. The selective mechanism is thus set to release the shaft 32 at 5P. M. and again at 6: 45 A. M., which is effected by the arms 25, 26tripping the release lever 29, which operates the detent levers 70, 71to release the stop arm 72 and thereby release the shaft 32.

The end of the clock spring 12 attached to the barrel 13 rotates theshaft 32 a half turn and moves the bar 33 to close and open the circuitcontrolled by the switch represented by the bar 33.

This rotation of the shaft 32 is effected by rotation of the couplingmembers 45, 55 as a differential unit upon the shaft 40, which latter isat this time stationary, being held from rotating by the rotor of theelectric motor 35, acting through the now stationary worm gear 12, worm64, gear 62 and pinion 61 on the rotor shaft 161.

The clock spring 12 is designed to be able to rotate the shaft 32 anumber of times before it is necessary to rewind it, and preferably thespring 12 will possess enough power to operate the shaft 32 and theswitch connected therewith a number of days before it requires to berewound.

Let it be supposed that the spring 12 will function as a motor forrotating the shaft for six days. At the end of this time, the electricmotor 35 will be cut into its circuit by its switch member 124, which isclosed as above described by the pinion 93 when the latter reachessubstantially the position represented in Fig. 3.

The electric motor 35 will now rotate the barrel 13 so as to rewind theclock spring, being connected with the barrel gear 15 through thecoupling member 55 and its gear 57.

The other coupling member 45 is not driven by the electric motor, but isheld stationary by being connected through the gears 16, 60 with theshaft 32, which is held by the detent lever engaging the stop arm 72.

hen the clock spring 12 has been re wound, the electric motor 35 is cutout of circuit as above described.

It will be observed that when the shaft is rotated by the clock springthrough the barrel gear 15, the gears 4 6, 57 of the conpling membersare rotated rapidly in the same direction at different speeds, and whenthe barrel gear 15 is rotated in the opposite direction by the electricmotor, the gear 57 of the coupling member is rotated at a difi'erentspeed, and therefore said coupling members may be designated adifferential gearmg.

By means of this differential gearing between the spring motor and theelectric motor, the spring motor 12 can function as a driver forrotating the shaft 32, while it is being wound up by the electric motor.

This enables the shaft 32 and the parts actuated by it to be operated ifthe selective mechanism should release the shaft 32 while the electricmotor is in circuit and operatively connected with the clock spring.

Under these circumstances, the sleeve members 45, are rotated as adifferential unit by the clock spring, while the shaft a0 and its pinion4-1 are rotated by the electric motor.

As soon as the shaft 32 is rendered stationary by the detent lever 7 Oengaging the stop arm 72, the clock spring ceases to function as adriver and its rewinding by the electric motor is resumed.

The blow of the stop arm 72 against the detent lever 70 is cushioned bysprings 150, 151 attached to fixed pins 152, 153 on the gear 86 and topins 154, 155 on the stop arm 72 and extended through and movable inslots 156, 157 in said gear.

One embodiment of the invention is herein shown, but it is not desiredto limit the invention to the particular construction shown.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a clockmechanism provided with a main shaft and with a main spring having oneend connected with said main shaft, a time train geared to said mainshaft and governing rotation thereof, a gear loose on said main shaftand with which the other end of said main spring is connected to bedriven by said main spring, a rotatable device, a differential having amember geared with said rotatable device and a second member geared tothe gear loose on said main shaft, a shaft'upon which said differentialmembers are mounted, an electric motor geared with the last-mentionedshaft, means for restraining said main spring from rotating said device,means for releasing said restraining means, a selective mechanism drivenby said main shaft and co-operating with said releasing means, a circuitcontroller for said electric motor, and means actuated by said mainspring for automatically operating said circuit controller to cut outthe electric motor when the main spring has been wound up apredetermined amount a to. cut n said electric motor when the ileeseonsaidm ci-oth r endof said 'main spring is connected to spring hasbeen unwound a predetermined amount. 2. Iman apparatus of the characterde- ,in combination, a clock mechanism 5 witlfa main shaft and with amain having one end connected with said aft; a liime train geared tosaid main shaft and gove rotation thereof, a gear dih raft and withwhich the be'driven by said miin spring, a rotatable device, adiiferentiai having a member geared with saidrotatable device and asecond memher-geared tmth'e loose on said main haft; a shaft upon Whichsaid differential members are loosel meunted, gearing for cmmecta'ngsaid'di tial members to en- 1 able them to be rotatedas a unit by saidmain spring and operatesaid rotatable device, and

29 fobemyhling the difierential member geared WiEfthe ar looseonthe-main shaft to be w ile the other differential member is stationary,and an electric motor geared with the shaft on which the difierentialmembers are loosely mounted for rewinding the main spring through one ofthe differential members while the other differential member isstationary.

r 3. :In an apparatus of the character de- 80 scribed, in combination, aclock mechanism provided with a main shaft and with a main springhavingone end connected with said shaft, a time train geared to saidmain shaft and governin rotation thereof, a gear 85 loose on and main itand with which the other end of said mainspring is connected to bedriven by sald mainesprin a rotatable device a difi'erential interpobetween the rotatabie device andsaid'main spring and hav- 40 j tLtotherotatabledevice .the gear oose on said main shaft and myliblelsla by theend of the, main connected withsaid loose gear-to open therotatahledeyme, a motor'driven shaft iiponlv which said t diiferentialmembe1-(s1 are 0090 ymoun ,ge in connecting sai moto dnvenshaft with. edifl'erentialmember geared with'the end of the main spring connectedwith said loose gear to rotate said difioc ntielmem a wind u the mainfigwhile the other difierentiai member is (glory, andan electric motorfor rotatmotor-dxiven shaft, o

' testimony whereof, I have signed my 88 name to this sgeci tion; 7 ,v O

V N M. ANDERSEN.

